Campaigners lose legal challenge to ITV studios redevelopment

Campaigners have failed in a bid to block the redevelopment of the former headquarters of ITV on London’s South Bank. Save our South Bank, advised by Richard Buxton Solicitors, brought a crowdfunded legal challenge to the development plans earner this year. Developer Mitsubishi Estate London and development manager Co-Re want to redevelop 60-72 Upper Ground, SE1, as a mixed-use scheme, including a 25-storey office building connected to two buildings of 14 and six storeys. The scheme won the backing of Lambeth Council in March 2022 and the Greater London Authority in August of that year. It was finally approved by then secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove in February this year. Even so, the proposed redevelopment has been controversial. Critics dubbed the proposed building “the slab” and said it would be an eyesore that would overshadow the Queen’s Walk and wreck views of listed buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral. Specifically, Save our South Bank argues that Gove’s decision was legally flawed and contradicted his own announcements regarding housing priorities and reducing carbon. The case was heard at the High Court in October. At the hearing, SOS’s legal team argued that the decision to grant planing permission didn’t take into account the heritage significance of St Paul’s Cathedral, Waterloo Bridge and five conservation areas. They also argued that the decision misinterpreted national and local planning policy. However, in a ruling handed down today, trial judge Mr Justice Mould found that Gove’s decision was neither irrational nor internally inconsistent. He dismissed SOS’s claim. The ruling contrasts with another one of Gove’s planning decisions that was challenged in court. In February, High Court judge Mrs Justice Lieven found Gove had misinterpreted planning policy when he rejected retailer Marks & Spencer’s plans to rebuild its Oxford Street HQ. The decision was sent back to the government for redetermination and earlier this month the new secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Angela Rayner approved M&S’s plans. A joint statement by Shinichi Kagitomi, chief executive of Mitsubishi Estate London, and Stephen Black, director at Co-Re, said: “We welcome Justice Mould’s judgment. At every stage of the planning process, our transformational plans for 72 Upper Ground have had the backing of senior politicians and independent experts, including Lambeth Council and its planning officers, the GLA, DLUHC and the planning inspector. We are looking forward to delivering an outstanding building that makes a significant positive contribution to the South Bank.” Save Our Southbank v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and others [2024] EWHC 3326 (Admin) Planning Court (Mr Justice Mould) 20 December 2024 Image © Make Architects